There are some pretty big themes in this book including racism, rape, and sexism. It is historically accurate but can make for some heavy reading. There are also some points that drag in the middle-ish part. I didn't love the way the story arc ended nor am I sure that I like how the overall story line moves forward at the end of the book. I've pondered it for a couple of days and still can't decide. If you read the first book, you are fairly familiar with how this author works. I wouldn't recommend starting with this book but I don't think you have to have read the first one to jump into this story.Julia Kidd has moved back to New York. Now she just needs to find a place of her own; a place where she can live and run her vanity press. She is starting to get involved with the literati scene as well. It is at a house party that she meets Eva Pruitt, a black author who is about to Have her book published which promises not only provocative but explosive. She is currently singing in a nightclub but the owner doesn't want to let her leave, causes a scene, and ends up murdered. When the New York police seem like they're not going to move an further than looking at Eva, Julia decides to step in. Along the way she's going to have to confront a lot of her own biases.
Three and a half stars
Follows Relative Fortunes
This book comes out June 2
ARC kindly provided by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own
